A COALITION row has been sparked after a leading Liberal Democrat blasted David Cameron's efforts to block an arch-federalist from being appointed president of the European Commission.

PUBLISHED: 14:20, Wed, Jun 25, 2014

David Cameron has attempted to block Jean-Claude Juncker's bid to head the European Commission [PA]

Business Secretary Vince Cable claimed that although the Prime Minister was "right" to attempt to stop Jean-Claude Juncker's appointment, Britain's influence in Brussels had been damaged by his methods.

Mr Cameron has vowed to fight "until the end" to prevent the appointment of the former Luxembourg prime minister, viewed by Downing Street as a roadblock to EU reform.

But, on the eve of a summit where he is expected to find himself isolated on the appointment by fellow EU leaders, Mr Cameron's approach was criticised by the Lib Dem minister.

"It hasn't been good for David Cameron," Dr Cable told BBC Radio 4's Today.

"I think he is right in principle that the appointment of the commission president shouldn't be foisted on heads of government.

"I think he was right to take the position he did but the way it's been done, unfortunately, has not helped Britain punch its weight in Europe."

The spokesman added: "The right thing to do is to have been making the principled case and to have made that consistently, and that's what the Prime Minister has been doing.

"I would characterise the approach we have taken in the recent period as one of being calm but very firm, and that is the approach we are going to keep taking."

The spokesman made clear that Mr Cameron continues to reject the argument put forward by Mr Juncker's supporters - that voters in last month's European elections were effectively expressing their support for the candidates for the European Commission presidency, the so-called "Spitzenkandidaten", put forward by the main groupings in the European Parliament.

Mr Juncker was Spitzenkandidat for the centre-right EPP, which came out of the polls with the largest grouping of MEPs.

"On the question which is at the heart of this, of how the EU should be responding to the recent European Parliament elections, the issue is whether or not Europe is responding to the concerns of voters in the 28 member states," said Mr Cameron's spokesman.

"If some in the European Parliament think that the message from voters was 'What do we want? The Spitzenkandidaten!' we would suggest that they are probably not addressing the central issue."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: "The fact that arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker is the frontrunner to be the next Commission President shows that it's business as usual in Brussels and that the European elite are not listening to the people of Europe.

"It also shows that David Cameron's attempts at renegotiation will likely be as futile as his attempt to block Juncker's appointment."